A Music Lover's Five Best Friends

This is exactly what it sounds like, the five things you should definitely know about and use if you have the guts to call yourself a true music lover. These are in no particular order, meaning one is just as important as the others!

1. The Internet

Let's face it, without the internet artists like Ok Go, Vampire Weekend and Arnel Pineda (who is now the lead singer of Journey) might have never gotten their start. The internet has changed the world of music, both in a good way and a bad. On one side, small town musicians and starving college students with hopes and dreams, but no money have the opportunity to make it in the music world. From getting a MySpace or Facebook page, to putting their stuff on Itunes and shoving their music down people's virtual throats, getting online for many is the key to getting on a record and, who knows, on a Grammy stage. But (and there's always a but)the internet can take away from musicians as well. We music lovers and listeners have gotten into the bad habit of downloading illegal music. While it's free for us (which is awesome) it takes away from that band you love so much (which isn't so awesome).



2. The Public Library

I know what you're thinking, I'm such a geek. But I can tell you with no shame that the public library is a music lovers paradise. An seemingly endless array of cds, audio recordings, books on music and video recordings of your favorite musicians in concert, you really can't go wrong whipping out that library card. Even more important than the selection of all this is the price- free! Well, kind of. Taxes fund the library, but when you're checking out that stack of cds and you're not pulling out your credit card, life feels pretty good.



3. The Ipod

There aren't too many people I know, especially my age, who don't own one of these. Ipods have become the beginning and the end in music, making Apple one wealthy company. I don't like to attach myself to labels very much, but for Apple, I make an exception. I love Ipods. The ability to carry my music in my pocket and show it to my friends, that's something I can't complain about. Itunes, well, that's another story. Itunes gets on my f***king nerves sometimes. But when I weigh the occasional screw-ups of Itunes versus the fact that my Ipod is still going strong after almost five years of heavy use, you can see why I stick by Apple.



And yes, this is what my Ipod looks like. Raivynn's got an Ipod Touch, lucky girl.

4. The Record Store

An interesting add on to the list, but just as necessary. Not nearly enough people recognize the importance of their local record store. Here in Cincinnati our two biggest are Everybody's Records in Pleasant Ridge and Shake It Records in Northside. I've been to them, and while I can vouch for both, I especially love Everybody's. From four dollars cds (I myself picked up Coldplay's "A Rush Of Blood To The Head") to vinyls and posters, that place really makes you feel like a true music lover. Most importantly, record stores are on this list because of the fact that they are the best place to pick up cds from local bands. My only complaint is that I can't seem to find any cds from my favorite local band, Shayna Zaid and the Catch, anywhere.



5. The Friends You Make

I discussed this a little bit in an earlier post, but sharing music with friends is not only super fun, but it helps you expand your own listening. Different people have different styles and preferences, so they listen to different music. As long as you're open minded to at least trying your friends music, who knows what might happen. Raivynn got turned onto The Beatles by a former friend of hers, and even though they don't talk much today she will forever credit him for the love she has for them. By the way, thanks to all my musical friends who have given me the gift of finding new music.



No, I have no idea who these chicks are, I just needed a picture of kids listening to music. That one kid looks pretty happy though. The other, I'm not so sure...

If all is right in the world, Raivynn will blog about the next album today and I will follow shortly thereafter. We're taking a little trip soon, so I'm trying to get through some more albums. Hope you guys are liking the blog so far, because I sure do. Don't forget to tell your own music friends all about this!

-Whitni